What Hilltop Farm, Inc. does

Hilltop Farm, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned sporthorse breeding and training facility founded in 1989 by Jane MacElree, operating on 400+ acres in Colora, northern Maryland. The company provides an integrated lifecycle of equestrian services for warmblood, Andalusian, and sport pony breeders and dressage riders: a stallion roster of cooled and frozen semen offerings (with on-site processing by Select Breeders Services), mare management and foaling services, young horse raising in age/gender-separated herds, professional dressage training from weanling through Grand Prix, and a complimentary listing marketplace for Hilltop-sired offspring. Stallions are approved with 19 breed registries, and the operation supports international distribution through FedEx overnight and a Canadian partnership with Therion Science.

The technical backbone rests on equine reproductive science rather than software: cooled semen doses contain at least 1 billion total sperm with 500+ million progressively motile sperm using SMG extender; frozen doses are independently verified by SBS for post-thaw motility (30%+), velocity, and concentration, with bacterial cultures screened by the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. The facility includes the Main Training Barn (completed 1991), broodmare facilities, young horse pastures, and an on-site SBS laboratory. Leadership includes Training Director Michael Bragdell (multiple USEF national championships) and Managing Director Natalie DiBerardinis (President of the American Hanoverian Society).

Hilltop Farm monetizes through transaction-based stallion breeding contracts (per-dose and multi-dose), recurring training and mare management services, dressage lessons (Michael Bragdell at $160/45 minutes), and horse sales listings ($10K-$35K+ per horse). The Breeder Rewards Program, operational since 1996, and annual Stallion Book distribution sustain long-term breeder engagement. The business is owner-operated with no institutional capital, employs 11-50 staff, and exhibits stable demand (mare management fully booked for 2026).

Name

Hilltop Farm, Inc.

Legal name

Hilltop Farm, Inc.

Website

https://hilltopfarminc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hilltop Farm, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned sporthorse breeding and training facility in Colora, Maryland, offering stallion semen services, mare management, young horse raising, and dressage training for warmblood breeders and riders across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Horse Breeding & Training

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (11292), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Horse Breeding & Stud Farms (AFAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stallion Services & Semen Collection/Distribution (AFAEAGAB), Mare Management & Foaling Operations (AFAEAGAC), Yearling/Weanling Raising & Sales Prep (AFAEAGAD), Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Sport horse breeding
• Dressage training services
• Stallion breeding services
• Frozen semen distribution
• Young horse raising

Headquarters

HQ city

Colora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Breeding Services and Stallion Contracts: Revenue from breeding contracts for stallion semen, including cooled semen (March-August season) and frozen semen (year-round). Contracts are available per-dose or multi-dose (1-year) options. ICSI sessions also offered.
2. Dressage Training Services: Training board for development of dressage horses at all levels, from young horse starting through Grand Prix. Includes preparation of stallions and mares for licensings and performance testings. Michael Bragdell offers lessons at $160 for 45-minute sessions.
3. Mare Management Services: Mare & Foaling Services covering breeding process from insemination to weaning. Includes long-term management for year-round mare care and foaling services. Note: Already fully booked for 2026.
4. Young Horse Raising Services: Specialized young horse raising services where horses are raised in small herds separated by age and gender. Includes individual feed stalls, grooming and handling lessons.
5. Horse Sales: Commission-free listing service for horses sired by past or present Hilltop stallions. Horses range from in-utero foals to trained sport horses, with prices from approximately $10,000 to $35,000+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hilltop Farm offers stallion breeding contracts with cooled and frozen semen for warmblood, Andalusian, and sport pony stallions, supported by an on-site Select Breeders Services laboratory. The company also provides mare management (breeding through weaning), herd-based young horse raising, professional dressage training from Training level through Grand Prix, and a complimentary listing service for Hilltop-sired horses for sale.

Product overview

Hilltop Farm, Inc. is a comprehensive sporthorse breeding and training facility offering an integrated suite of services for warmblood, Andalusian, and sport pony breeders. The core offering centers on the Breeding Stallions program, which provides access to frozen and cooled semen from a diverse stallion roster. Supporting services include Mare Management (covering breeding through weaning), Young Horse Raising (herd-based development), and Dressage Training (from young horses through Grand Prix). The company also operates an online Sales Horses marketplace and provides Breeders Support Programs including rewards and educational resources. Additional services include Match My Mare advisory consultations, Semen Shipment logistics, and the annual Stallion Book publication. The integrated approach connects breeding, raising, training, and sales into a continuous lifecycle service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breeding Stallions Comprehensive stallion breeding program offering cooled semen (March-August) and year-round frozen semen from a roster of warmblood, Andalusian, and sport pony stallions. Includes breeding contracts (per-dose or multi-dose), mare matching assistance, and ICSI sessions. Stallions are approved with 19+ breed registries including KWPN, Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Westphalian, and Danish Warmblood.
• Dressage Training Professional dressage training services for riders from Training through FEI levels, taught by Michael Bragdell. Includes 45-minute lessons at $160, young horse starting, stallion and mare preparation for licensings and performance testing, and sales marketing for select dressage horses.
• Mare Management Full-service mare management program covering all aspects of breeding from insemination to weaning, including foaling services and long-term year-round mare care. Note: Already fully booked for 2026.
• Young Horse Raising Specialized young horse raising program where horses are raised in small herds separated by age and gender. Includes individual feed stalls, grooming, and handling lessons as part of development.
• Sales Horses Marketplace Complimentary online marketplace for horses sired by past or present Hilltop stallions. Listings include photos, videos, pedigree, pricing, and breeder contact information. Most horses are located at breeders' facilities rather than Hilltop Farm. Horse sale prices are set by individual sellers.
• Match My Mare Advisory Service Individualized stallion recommendation service that matches breeders' mares to appropriate Hilltop stallions based on mare characteristics, breeding goals, and desired improvements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seven youngsters started at Hilltop have achieved top finishes in USEF/Markel Young/Developing Horse National Championships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Select Breeders Services (SBS)coreTechnology or IntegrationSBS is the world's largest frozen semen provider with 25+ years expertise. Their lab at Hilltop Farm was national headquarters for 18 years and continues as full-service laboratory on-site. Hilltop uses SBS for all semen processing including quality control testing with post-thaw motility verification and bacterial culture screening.
• PurinacoreOthersOfficial feed partner since 2007. Purina provides nutritional products for all horses at Hilltop including broodmares, foals, youngsters, breeding stallions, dressage horses, and retirees. Product line offers quality and options for all life stages and activity levels.
• Brook Ledge Horse TransportationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHorse transportation partner providing shipping services for show horses, racehorses, and companion horses. Known for outstanding service and high care and attention for all horses transported.
• Hulsebos SaddlesminorOthersThird-generation family company manufacturing quality custom saddles for Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping since 1910. Hilltop Farm trainers use Hulsebos saddles for daily work.
• United States Equestrian Team (USET) FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit supporting equestrian athletes, promoting international excellence, and building for the future of equestrian sports. Hilltop Farm is a partner/sponsor.
• Therion ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Hilltop ships frozen semen to Therion Science at season start for distribution within Canada, helping Canadian breeders save on shipping and import permit costs. Four doses shipped per contract booked prior to group shipment.
• University of Pennsylvania New Bolton CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationNew Bolton Center Field Service provides routine and emergency health care, reproductive services, lameness evaluation, and diagnostic services. Samples from SBS with bacterial growth are submitted to New Bolton Center for secondary culture and identification to determine potential mare pathogens.
• CavallominorOthersEquipment partner providing riding boots for dressage and jumping, breeches, show jackets, and accessories. Range includes all-round boots, ankle boots, chaps, and functional riding apparel.
• The Mill of Bel AirminorOthersFeed and supplies provider serving Central MD, Southern MD, Eastern Shore of MD, Delaware, and Southern PA. Provides competent equine nutritionist to assist with feed and management needs.
• Champion ShavingsminorOthersSupplier of highest quality pine shavings in North America. Shavings compressed into heat-sealed plastic bags with guaranteed labeled expanded volume, delivered across US and Canada.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Iron Spring Farm: Long-established Pennsylvania-based warmblood sport horse breeding and training facility with a stallion roster, mare management, and dressage training. Closely comparable to Hilltop in integrating breeding, training, and sales for the North American warmblood/dressage market.
• Spy Coast Farm: Kentucky-based sport horse operation combining stallion services, breeding, and development of upper-level sport horses, including dressage and show jumping. Operates as a multi-discipline stallion station and sport horse sales platform analogous to Hilltop's integrated model.
• Westveil Farms: North American warmblood breeding operation standing stallions across multiple registries with offspring sales. Comparable as a competing stallion station serving the same Hanoverian/Rhine/Westphalian dressage breeder base as Hilltop.

Emerging players

• Select Breeders Services: Global frozen semen processing provider headquartered on Hilltop's property for 18 years; continues to operate a full-service lab at Hilltop. Comparable in providing cooled/frozen semen processing and shipping services to sport horse breeders, though primarily a service/technology supplier rather than a breeding farm.
• Riveredge Friesians & Warmbloods: U.S. sport horse breeder focused on warmblood and Friesian cross lines with mare management and foaling services. Comparable in providing breeding services to warmblood buyers, though smaller in stallion roster and scale than Hilltop.

Regional players

• Pineland Farms: Maine-based equestrian center with dressage training, riding programs, and event hosting on a large agricultural property. Comparable in providing dressage training and event-based customer engagement, though broader in mission and not primarily a stallion station.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hilltop Farm, Inc.